801-201 English One Syllabus/Course Overview

Milwaukee Area Technical College-Milwaukee Campus
English 201—Introduction to College Writing
ENG-201-518 / 3 credits / Meeting Days: / Time: / Room:

Required Texts:
Eschholz, Paul & Alfred Rosa. Models for Writers . New York: St. Martins, 2004.
[ISBN: 0-312-40686-X]

Hesse, Douglas & Lynn Quitman Troyka. Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers (7th Ed.).
New York: Prentice Hall, 2005. [ISBN: 0-13-144350-X]

Supplementary Materials:
College-level dictionary and thesaurus
College-ruled, 8 ½ x 11 clean-edge paper
Notebook and folder
Pen (black or blue)
Red Pen for indicating corrections and revisions
Highlighter
*Computer disk
Course Description:
English 201 is an introductory writing and reading course emphasizing the thinking processes, practice in organizing ideas, documenting sources, and developing clear expository college-level writing that achieves unity, coherence, and development. It is also a course that emphasizes the development of reading skills through the analysis of a variety of college-level text forms such as essays. The student will have four formal papers throughout the semester as well as many reading assignments and additional writing assignment to prepare the student to write the four formal papers. Instruction is provided for understanding and development of standard grammar usage, sentence construction, punctuation, vocabulary development, paragraphing, and essay structuring. Vital to student success in English 201 is understanding and practicing writing as a process—brainstorming/freewriting, organizing ideas, outlining, drafting, revising, rewriting, and proofreading. Final MLA Documented Research essay is required.
Goals:
To recognize the range of communication through reading and writing
To use grammatical forms and appropriate levels of usage in college writing and speaking
To gather, organize, and express ideas clearly, effectively, and logically in writing and speaking
To listen with concentration, understanding, and discernment
To participate in a variety of formal settings with effectiveness and thoughtfulness and with appropriate goal-oriented behavior
To locate information sources
To learn MLA research and documentation technique and format

Attendance:
ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED – You are responsible for attending all classes and completing all course requirements. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor, in advance if possible, and obtain the makeup work assignments. Your instructor will attempt to assist you in arranging makeup work as much as is reasonably possible. Reminder – Each lecture hour requires at least two additional hours of student preparation. A Student Syllabus Receipt must be signed and returned to your instructor, indicating you understand course requirements and grading.

INSTRUCTOR RECOMMENDED WITHDRAW – You may be dropped for absenteeism when:

1. Your consecutive absences exceed the number of class meetings per week, or on the third consecutive absence in the case of classes that meet once a week.
2. Your attendance is sporadic (e.g., you miss seven class periods for a class meeting three periods a week), and you are unable to make up the instruction and assignments missed.
3. You fail to meet attendance requirements of licensing agencies.
4. You pose a safety hazard to yourself or others because of missed instruction critical to safe class or lab performance.
5. You are unable to make up instruction missed in a lab/shop class.
6. You have not attended class during the first two weeks of the term.

If you have documented health or unusual personal problems affecting your attendance, and your instructor agrees that you can make up the work, you may be allowed to continue and may be advised to use MATC support services (e.g., child care, financial aid, counseling, academic support, etc.). However, if your instructor determines you cannot complete the work or you will hinder instruction of other students, you will be withdrawn. You do have the right to appeal a withdrawal by first discussing it with your instructor. If your appeal is denied, a final withdrawal appeal may be made with the academic dean’s office. If you are appealing, you may stay in the class until the drop is official, unless your presence may cause a safety hazard to yourself or others.

Because this particular section of English 201 meets once a week for 4 hours, I am contractually bound by MATC to retain your presence in class for the entire 4 hours that we are assigned to meet each week and to utilize that time for productive in class instruction and work. As a result, at the beginning of each class meeting, I will take attendance. Midway through the class period, you will be given 15 break. After the mid-period break, I will take attendance again. If you do not return after the mid-period break, you will be marked absent. I do understand that on occasion emergencies will occur requiring that you leave early. As a result, if you must leave early due to an emergency, you are responsible for making up missed instruction and work.

Americans with Disabilities Act:
If you have a learning, emotional, and/or physical disability that challenges your classroom performance, and you wish to request ADA accommodations, contact MATC’s Center for Special Needs at 414/297-6838. They may require documentation to substantiate your disability claim to enable them to comply with your request. Admission of a disability is voluntary and will be handled in a confidential manner. MATC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities and fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To ensure your academic success in this class and in your program, you are strongly encouraged to provide me and your other instructors with a copy of the Instructor Notification Form from the Center for Special Needs substantiating your disability. If an ADA Instructor Notification Form is not provided to me, I cannot provide ADA accommodations to you strictly based on your verbal claim of a disability. It must be substantiated.

4 Paragraph Assignments = 25 points each = 100 points
4 Quizzes = 25 points each = 100 points
3 Essay Assignments = 100 points each = 300 points
1 Summary Assignment = 100 points
*1 Short Research Essay = 200 points
Midterm Exam = 100 points
*In-Class Final Exam/Paper = 100 points

1000 points = A; 1000-900 points = A; 899-800 points = B; 799-700 points = C; 699-600 points = D; 599-0 points = F

RESEARCH ESSAY & FINAL EXAM POLICY:

*TO RECEIVE A SATISFACTORY PASSING GRADE FOR ENGLISH 201, YOU MUST DO THE SHORT RESEARCH ESSAY AND ITS FINAL DRAFT MUST REFLECT C LEVEL WORK OR HIGHER. ALSO, YOU MUST TAKE THE IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM. SO, IF YOU FAIL TO SUBMIT THE SHORT RESEARCH ESSAY AND YOU FAIL TO TAKE THE IN-CLASS FINAL EXAM, YOU WILL RECEIVE A FAILING GRADE FOR THE COURSE NO MATTER HOW HIGH YOUR AVERAGE WAS UP TO THAT POINT. NOT DOING ONE OR THE OTHER OR BOTH WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC FALIURE OF THE COURSE.

*Final drafts for all formal writing assignments will be doubled-spaced, TYPED or COMPUTER GENERATED and submitted to me at the beginning of the class period on specific due dates indicated on the syllabus unless I inform you any due date changes. I do not accept LATE assignments. TO MEET COURSE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES, THE WEEKLY COURSE CALENDAR SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT MY DISCRETION.

Course Design & Structure:
This course is designed and structured as a series of steps and tasks, or building blocks, in which each step and task is interrelated and built upon the previous task. The steps and tasks are organized in sections, and the sections are interrelated. You will learn to “revise” and “clarify” your skills (thinking, writing, reading, and speaking) with each new task you undertake; however, as you move on to each new step or task, they will grow increasingly difficult because each new step or task will present new challenges of their own. In addition, this particular class curriculum will address writing demands you can expect to encounter in other disciplines. As a result, crucial to success in this class is attendance, time management, and homework preparedness.

Odds & Ends:

▪ Cell Phones: While in class, please turn them off. Cell phones going off in class are highly disruptive.
▪ Food & Drink: While class is in progress, I don’t mind if you sip soda, coffee, or water or have a light snack as long you are quiet about it and clean up after yourself.
▪ Instructor & Student Conduct: In my classes, students’ emotional and physical safety comes first. As a result, it is very import that we work together to build a positive, collaborative, productive, and non-threatening leaning environment. Do not hesitate to ask me questions; however, please raise your hand, and wait to be called upon. Let’s be aware and sensitive in how we communicate to one another. I expect my students to conduct themselves with maturity associated with adult college-level student learners; you can expect from me accessibility, fairness, professionalism, and instructional preparedness. Two-way communication is very important. Remember, as your instructor, I am there to help you achieve the course’s objectives and goals.